Browsing by Author "Becker, Jolanda"

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    A novel implementation framework for ISO 9001:2015
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Becker, Jolanda; Van Dyk, Wynand; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study proposes an alternative implementation method for ISO 9001:2015 by using knowledge transfer best practice as a basis for the development of an implementation framework. ISO 9001 is by far the most widely implemented ISO management system standard with an implementation base of 1.1 million accreditations worldwide, and the benefits of ISO 9001 accreditation are well established. Despite this, implementation of the standard is at times superficial. Unfortunately, there is a gap in literature on implementation methods for ISO 9001. This study will, therefore, be a valuable contribution to the ISO 9001 body of knowledge. Organisations seeking or maintaining an ISO 9001:2015 accreditation would find the proposed framework useful. Implementations are usually done by means of a checklist gap assessment and action plan. However, this is consistent with presenting requirements in paragraph form and is not in line with knowledge transfer best practice. It has been shown that diagrams can assist with learning. Although the environments are very different, organizational learning, and therefore the ability to implement ISO 9001 requirements, might also be more effective if the requirements are presented in a diagram or flowchart form. This principle was applied in the development of an alternative implementation framework, namely the Quality Framework, which is in the form of an interactive and editable flowchart. This approach promotes the sustainable integration of requirements into existing operations. The Quality Framework is novel in that it provides a consolidated framework of the generic requirements of the standard in a diagrammatic format that is interactive and allows managers to populate with particulars from their own environments. To test the impact of the framework, the attitude of managers towards ISO 9001 was selected as a metric and measured by means of a six-point Likert style survey. The framework was tested within a South African State-Owned Enterprise. Significance tests provided the following insights in favour of the framework when compared to the commonly used checklist method. The framework is superior in providing operational improvement methodologies and potentially has a positive effect on how managers perceive their operations. In addition, it is potentially less effort to maintain than the checklist. The sample size for each survey group was 17 and 19 respectively. Despite the small sample size, the endeavour involved targeting 65 departments in the participating organisation with 38 of them responding to the survey. This constitutes a big organisational undertaking. In light of these conclusions, it is recommended that the Quality Framework be used for the implementation of ISO 9001:2015.